INTERNATIONAL

As Gaza marks one year since the onset of a devastating war triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the humanitarian crisis has escalated to catastrophic proportions. According to Palestinian health officials, nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, with over half of the fatalities comprising women and children. Additionally, more than 96,000 individuals have sustained injuries, although the actual death toll is likely higher, as many victims remain buried under rubble or in areas inaccessible to medical teams. Numerous governments and human rights organizations have condemned the military operations, labeling them as genocidal acts against the Palestinian people. The conflict erupted following Hamas's assault, which resulted in the deaths of...

The families of hundreds of Kashmiri youths studying in Iran are deeply worried over the safety of their wards as West Asia remains on the brink of a full-blown war while many are now wary of sending their children there for higher studies, Press Trust of India reported. Iran is considered to be economically viable for professional courses, including MBBS, and hundreds of students from Kashmir prefer to get admission to various colleges there. The families of such students are deeply perturbed over the unfolding of events, especially in the backdrop of the escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict and Israel-Hamas war. Iran fired around 200 missiles into Israel on October 1 in response to Israel’s killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and other commanders of the militant o...

Israel has taken down a map from its official website that depicted Jammu Kashmir as part of Pakistan. The map was swiftly removed after the mistake was flagged by a user on X (formerly Twitter). The Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, responded to the issue, explaining that the error occurred due to a website editor's mistake. "Website editor's mistake. Thank you for noticing. Was taken down,” Azar posted in response to the user. The incident gained attention after the Hindustan Times reported the mishap, leading to swift corrective action from Israeli officials.

Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad has reported that more than 40 rescuers and firefighters have been killed by Israeli fire over the past three days, after Israel invaded Lebanon. In total, 97 paramedics and firefighters have been killed since fighting erupted along the border last October, with 188 others wounded. The overall death toll in Lebanon has reached 1,974, including 127 children, while more than 9,350 people have been injured in the ongoing violence, according to Abiad. Amid the rising toll, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that 28 healthcare workers were killed in the last 24 hours due to Israeli air strikes and military invasion. Many health workers have fled their posts, severely hampering trauma care and es...

Nearly a year after Hezbollah began launching missiles into northern Israel, more than 68,000 Israelis remain displaced, unsure of when—or if—they will be able to return home. The conflict, which escalated after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, has opened a new front with Hezbollah, leading to relentless missile strikes on civilian communities near the Lebanon border. Among the hardest-hit areas is Kiryat Shemona, where residents have been evacuated repeatedly due to the ongoing threat from Hezbollah. The situation has left many wondering whether their hometowns will ever return to normal. A poll conducted in June revealed that 43% of Kiryat Shemona’s 30,000 residents are considering not going back, with 13% already deciding to permanently leave the area. Many residents d...

Iran launched a large-scale missile strike at Israel on October 1, 2024, causing massive damage to at least three military bases in Tel Aviv. The strikes came in retaliation for Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the assassinations of leaders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hamas, and Hezbollah. The IDF, on Wednesday evening, admitted losses to the airbases and said that at least one hundred structures were damaged during the Iranian strikes, photos of several of them have gone viral on social media. Despite the ban imposed by Israel on photographing the damage caused by Iranian retaliatory strikes, several videos of the damage have gone viral on social media. Media in Palestine reported that 20 warplanes were damaged during the strikes. Foll...

Eight Israeli soldiers were killed after being ambushed by Hezbollah militants during Israel's ongoing ground invasion of Lebanon, the IDF confirmed. The incident marks a significant loss for Israeli forces, coming a day after the ground operation began. Seven other soldiers were seriously injured in the clashes, with their families notified. The soldiers, from the elite Aguz commando unit, were struck by anti-tank missiles and mortars in southern Lebanon. Two soldiers from the Golani patrol unit, as well as one of the injured, were hit by rocket fire. The attack took place in a village where Hezbollah militants had set up an ambush inside a building. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences, stating, "We are in the midst of a difficult war with the Iranian a...

In a rare admission, Israeli Defence forces have said that Iran's missile strike on Tuesday evening targeted Israeli military bases, causing damage. The Israeli Air Force maintained that no civilians, soldiers, or aircraft were harmed. Approximately 180 missiles were launched by Iran, hitting army installations as well as populated areas. However, the IDF emphasized that none of its fighter jets were hit, and the damage did not significantly impact the military's operational capabilities,a claim denied by media outlets and Independent journalists. Independent media outlets and Journalists reported that 20 F35 planes were damaged while three airbases were completely damaged. The Iranian attack, which Iran said was a retaliation to Israel's intrusion of Iran's international bo...

Israel has barred UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country due to his failure to explicitly condemn Iran's recent missile attack. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced the decision, stating that Guterres' refusal to denounce the aggression has made him unwelcome. The incident occurred after Iran fired over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel amidst escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. While many missiles were intercepted, some breached Israel’s defenses, though no casualties were reported. Guterres condemned the ongoing violence but avoided directly naming Iran, prompting Katz’s declaration that Israel will protect its dignity with or without Guterres' support.

In the aftermath of Iran's missile strikes on Israel, Israel has, in a first, admitted significant damage to "civilian" infrastructure. According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, around 100 homes were damaged in Hod Hasharon, a town located just north of Tel Aviv, following Iranian missile bombardment. The strikes were launched in retaliation for the assassinations of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Footage shared by Quds News Network shows one of the missile impact sites, a mere 500 meters from the Mossad headquarters, highlighting the proximity of the attacks to critical Israeli intelligence operations. The damage to the area has intensified concerns regarding the extent of Iran's military reach and Israel’s defensive capabilities. P...